Hailed as the new voice of a generation everywhere from the New York Times to the Guardian, Darren McGarvey is a boldly outspoken working-class writer and activist unafraid to speak to truth to power. In his bestseller Poverty Safari he did more than anyone to give voice to the anger of Britain’s underclass; as hip-hop artist Loki, his albums Trigger Warning and Government Issue Music Protest made him one of the most significant and thrilling musicians in Scotland today.

Now he returns to question the consequences of our trauma-obsessed society.

Today, trauma permeates media, from music and television to films and books. While the increasing openness is welcome, Darren has observed that this rise has been accompanied by a parallel explosion of disinformation and sometimes harmful guidance about how to deal with personal trauma. In this event, he will ask: How did we get here? And are the stories we’re telling ourselves liberating us or keeping us trapped?

It’s time to pull back the curtain, sharing the hard-won wisdom Darren has gained from the events brought on by telling his own story.

Speakers:

Darren McGarvey grew up in Pollok, Glasgow. He is a writer, hip-hop artist, broadcaster and campaigner. His bestselling and acclaimed first book Poverty Safari was awarded the Orwell Prize for political writing in 2018.

Nicola Sturgeon was Scotland’s longest serving First Minister and the first woman to hold the office. She led Scotland through Brexit and the Covid pandemic, working with five UK Prime Ministers along the way. As SNP leader, she led her party to eight successive election victories. Nicola was elected as one of the inaugural members of the re-established Scottish Parliament in 1999. She is currently the MSP for Glasgow Southside. Before being elected First Minister in 2014, Nicola was the Deputy First Minister. She was also Scotland’s Health Secretary – the longest-serving in that role in the devolution – before a period as Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities. She also helped lead the Yes campaign in the 2014 independence referendum. Her autobiography, Frankly was published in August 2025.